June S.
Yelp
I was lucky to attend an event here, with 5-course Ottoman Opulence Tasting. They opened in August of 2023, and already made Eater's, Infatuation's, AND the New York Post's Lists of the "Best New Restaurant Openings of 2023."
We cocktails to start off this event, Purple Velvet and Raki Mule. Purple Velvet was sweet and fruity, with beautiful color. It was really tasty! Raki Mule was minty and refreshing, with that notes of spice from anise, interesting drink. The candied ginger on top was a nice touch.
The first course was Mezze Trio with baba ganoush, hummus, pistachio, and Turkish nuts & spices. We also received some warm pita breads, They were all fresh and flavorful, I really enjoy that as well. The second course was Beetroot Carpaccio. It had a nice sweetness to it, and velvety.
The third course was Pan Seared Scallops with Turkish Pastirma. Scallops were super plump and seared just right. The pastirma had a good amount of salty flavor which went great with scallops that needed the extra oomph. The fourth course was Grilled Lamb Rack. They looked impressive, and had great flavor, and hazelnut coating was really tasty. I felt that the mean was ever-so-slightly overcooked. Other than that, it was a beautiful dish. Very filling and satisfying.
The last course was the dessert. Roasted Pumpkin & Kaymak Mousse. This was an interesting dessert. It was almost like a mix of sweet and savory dessert, if such thing exist. One of my pumpkin slices was thicker and larger, and not cooked all the way. I did like the second, softer piece. It was elegantly sweet, and tahini went great with pumpkin.
We sure had an amazing Event here at NAR. They care a lot about the ingredients, with its quality and where they source them from. And you can taste the quality with every bite. Service was great, friendly and polite. If you want to try some modern Turkish dishes, head over to NAR!